This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Wednesday's NBA slate has 11 games on the docket beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. With scoring soaring throughout the league, it's not hard to find exploitable defenses to pick against. While opponent is one factor, it's far from the only one dictating the value picks below. FanDuel's format only counts the eight highest scores in your nine-player lineup, so keep that in mind when making your selections.
POINT GUARD
Lonzo Ball, LAL at PHO ($7,000): Ball started and played 33 minutes Monday in the first game of Rajon Rondo's three-game suspension, and he can expect a similar workload Wednesday. The second overall selection in the 2017 draft demonstrated his well-rounded skill set with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists Monday, setting a baseline for what he can do as a starter with the new-look Lakers. It would be surprising to see his numbers decline against a Suns team that's giving up 114 points per game. With the Lakers also struggling on defense, this game could easily get into the 120s or 130s.
Bryn Forbes, SA vs. IND ($4,300): As always seems to be the case in San Antonio, a relative nobody is stepping up when called upon. This most recent nobody is Forbes, who's averaging 14.7 PPG in 31 minutes per game, capitalizing on available playing time in San Antonio's injury-riddled backcourt. You can always drop Forbes' score if things don't work out, but the possibility of an offensive explosion coupled with the lineup flexibility offered by his minute salary makes him a nice value pick at $4,300.
SHOOTING GUARD
Luka Doncic, DAL at ATL ($8,300): Doncic's ability to fill up the box score should be on full display against the team that technically picked him on draft night before immediately flipping his rights for Trae Young and a future pick. Defense certainly hasn't been the Hawks' strong suit in the early going, as Atlanta's opponents are scoring 122.7 points per game. With averages of 18.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 4.3 APG, Doncic should have no trouble racking up value in this favorable matchup.
Caris LeVert, BKN at CLE ($6,900): The Cavaliers are another team off to a dreadful start defensively, having allowed 126.7 points per game en route to an 0-3 record. LeVert has established himself as Brooklyn's go-to option with 24.7 PPG through three contests, rounding out his contributions with 4.7 RPG and 4.0 APG. Another offensive outburst should be expected here.
SMALL FORWARD
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. LAL ($5,700): Warren has been an excellent source of offense, averaging 20.0 PPG with at least 16 in every contest. He doesn't move the needle much in other categories, but Warren's scoring should be more than enough to cover his $5,700 valuation against a Swiss cheese Lakers defense that's giving up a mind-boggling 131.7 points per game.
Kevin Durant, GS vs. WAS ($9,900): It's a lot easier to clear up the cap room for Durant at $9,900 than it is for LeBron James ($11,500) or Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700). Durant's every bit as capable of carrying fantasy teams as those other two small forwards are, he just comes with increased risk due to the possibility of reduced playing time if the Warriors blow out the competition early and rest their stars. Washington's first three games have all been decided by four points or fewer, however, and the Wizards just handed the Trailblazers their first loss Monday in Portland, creating reason for optimism that Durant will get ample playing time to strut his stuff against his hometown team.
POWER FORWARD
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. IND ($9,100): The Spurs' offseason acquisition of DeMar DeRozan hasn't hurt Aldridge. If anything, it's helped him. With defenses unable to key on the talented big man as much with a premier scoring threat lurking on the perimeter, Aldridge has had more room to operate when he gets the ball without sacrificing much in terms of workload. As a result, Aldridge is averaging 23.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG and 4.0 APG in 39 minutes per contest despite shooting just 44.8 percent -- a mark that would go down as a career low if it persists.
Serge Ibaka, TOR vs. MIN ($5,400): Ibaka operated as Toronto's starting center Monday, and he's likely to get the nod again with Karl-Anthony Towns and the T-Wolves in town. Whether as a starter or a key bench cog, Ibaka's been within a few minutes of his season average of 28 minutes per game, while chipping in 15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 1.5 blocks per game. The veteran big man's stats in recent seasons suggest that his production is sustainable, so Ibaka should continue to deliver steadily strong production for a $5,400 player with the possibility of a fantasy scoring outburst due to a crooked number in the blocks category.
CENTER
Marc Gasol, MEM at SAC ($7,700): In addition to excelling at a center's traditional skill set, Gasol is one of the best passing big men in the league. After posting 17.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG and 4.2 APG last season, he's averaging 14.7, 8.7 and 4.0 early in this campaign. His scoring should climb once the career 48.6 percent shooter's current 36.4 field goal percentage normalizes, and that improvement will likely begin against a Kings team that's performed like a bunch of peasants on defense with 130.7 points allowed per game.
